Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. See our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.

Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. See our Privacy Policy and User Agreement for details.

4.
What’s a logical fallacy and
why should you care?why should you care?
• It’s poor logic partly consisting of
li ti d tiovergeneralizations and assumptions.
• The presence of logical fallacies may weaken a
iti j t Wh ’ d l iwriting project. When you’re developing an
argument, your points should follow in logical
order and make proper conclusionsorder and make proper conclusions.
• When you’re refuting a counterargument
(procatalepsis), it’s useful to point out logical(procatalepsis), it s useful to point out logical
fallacies as weak points in your opponent’s
argument.
Version Date: 3.10.06, klee@vanguard.edu,
Colossians 2.8

8.
Now You Try It!
For the next group of slides, identify the
logical fallacy at work in each. You may
choose among these terms: non
sequitor, equivocation, faulty
generalization, bandwagon, faulty
causal, faulty analogy, begging the
question, ad hominem, ad populem,
red herring, and complex question.
Version Date: 3.10.06, klee@vanguard.edu,
Colossians 2.8

9.
Identify Logical Fallacies
• “ ‘Either they voted for the candidate or
they voted for the candidate’s
opponent’ ” (Corbett and Connors 67).
• “Any man who is honest will not steal.Any man who is honest will not steal.
My client is honest. Therefore, my
client would not steal” (Corbett andclient would not steal (Corbett and
Connors 69).
Version Date: 3.10.06, klee@vanguard.edu,
Colossians 2.8

11.
Identify the Logical Fallacy
• “ ‘My opponent’s arguments are very
impressive, but remember, this is the
man who deserted his faithful wife
and family after he had won his first
political victory’ ” (Corbett and
Connors 70).
Version Date: 3.10.06, klee@vanguard.edu,
Colossians 2.8

12.
Answer
• “ ‘My opponent’s arguments are very
impressive, but remember, this is the man
who deserted his faithful wife and family
after he had won his first political victory’ ”
(Corbett and Connors 70).
AD HOMINEMAD HOMINEM
Version Date: 3.10.06, klee@vanguard.edu,
Colossians 2.8

15.
Detecting Logical Fallacies:
Examine this ExcerptExamine this Excerpt
“But it is not meant that all American
it h ld t di l l twriters should studiously cleave to
nationality in their writings; only this, no
American writer should write like anAmerican writer should write like an
Englishman or a Frenchman; let him write
like a man for then he will be sure tolike a man, for then he will be sure to
write like an American. Let us away with
this leaven of literary flunkeyism towardsy y
England” (Melville 275).
Melville, Herman. “Hawthorne and His Mosses.” American Experience: Nonfiction. Dora Smith, Gen. Ed.
Version Date: 3.10.06, klee@vanguard.edu,
Colossians 2.8
New York: MacMillan, 1984. 269-277.

16.
Detecting Logical Fallacies:
Examine this ExcerptExamine this Excerpt
“Turn, now, to politics. Consider, for example, a campaign
more uproariously idiotic – a deafening, nerve-wracking
battle to the death between Tweedledum and Tweedledeebattle to the death between Tweedledum and Tweedledee,
Harlequin and Sganarelle, Gobbo and Dr. Cook – the
unspeakable, with fearful snorts, gradually swallowing the
inconceivable? I defy anyone to match it elsewhere on the
earth In other lands at worst there are at least intelligibleearth. In other lands, at worst, there are at least intelligible
issues, coherent ideas, salient personalities. Somebody
says something, and somebody replies. But what did
Harding say in 1920, and what did Cox reply? Who wasg y , p y
Harding, anyhow, and who was Cox? Here, having
perfected democracy, we lift the whole combat to symbolism,
to transcendentalism, to metaphysics. Here we load a pair
of palpably tin cannon with blank cartridges charged withof palpably tin cannon with blank cartridges charged with
talcum powder, and so let fly” (Mencken 388).
Version Date: 3.10.06, klee@vanguard.edu,
Colossians 2.8
Mencken, H. L. “On Being an American.” Dora Smith, Gen. Ed. American Experience: Nonfiction.
New York: MacMillan, 1984. 385-389.

18.
The Writing Center
For more help with logical fallacies,
contact the Writing Center.g
• Where: Heath 214
• What else: Thanks for your interest in our• What else: Thanks for your interest in our
resources!
“Faith and knowledge resting on the hope“Faith and knowledge resting on the hope
of eternal life . . .” (NIV, Titus 1.2).
Version Date: 3.10.06, klee@vanguard.edu,
Colossians 2.8